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Just A Little Mistake 



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No. 5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Massachusetts 



Just a Little Mistake 



A Comedy in One Act 



By 

ELIZABETH GALE 



BOSTON 

WALTER H. BAKER k CO. 
1916 






r/:i? 



Just a Little Mistake 



CHARACTERS 



Mrs. Ball, a very hospitable woman, 
Elsie Walton, Iter niece. 
Helen Strong ) ,„/■„■ j 
Ray Forster | ^'^f^^'^ds. 

J ER R Y, her sister s frietid. 
A Cook. 

This little play may be given by six girls ; the part 
of the cook, however, can be taken by a man. 



SYNOPSIS 

Mrs, Ball receives a cablegram from her sister Lucy stating that 
yerry will arrive that day and begging her to be cordial. Mrs. 
Ball then goes out to hire a cook, leaving three young friends to 
receive the unknown guest. The cook, sent down from the 
agency in haste, is greeted and entertained as Jerry and when the 
real Jerry (Miss Geraldine Take) arrives she is sent out to the kitchen. 
After considerable confusion and excitement she is discovered to 
be the Little Miss Take. 




Copyright, 19 i6, by Walter H, Baker & Co 




JUN -D lyib 
©J1.D 44091 



Just a Little Mistake 



SCENE. — A room in Mrs. Ball's home. At the rear a widef 
curtained doorway leads to the hall. To the right of this 
stands a desk with desk-phone ofi it, A mirror hangs al- 
most in the center of the right zvall with a table and cJiair 
beneath it. Just above the mirror is a door, opefiing out. 
Well forward at the left is a sofa, a small table and two 
chairs. Other chairs, pictures, etc., give the room a cozy, 
comfortable air. 

(Mrs. Ball, a7i attractive woman of about thirty-five, is dis- 
covered standing before the mirror adjusting her hat -pins. 
A bell rings.) 

Mrs. B. There they are now ! 

(^She turns and starts toward the hall door but before she 
can reach it three girls come bounding in, laughing and 
talking. They are dressed in light siimmer clothes and 
carry gay seiving bags. Elsie Walton is a blond, dai?ity, 
fiuttery little thing, Helen Strong is dark ajid vivacious, 
a fid Ray Forster is tall afid athletic looking, with a 
breezy, out-of-door manner. She wears rather severe 
sport clothes which contrast strongly ivith the fiujfy frocks 
of the others.') 

Elsie {coming in). The door was open, Aunt Carry], so we 
came right in. 

Helen {stepping past her). We're house breakers, Mrs. 
Ball. 

Ray {flourishing an iinaginary pistol). Hands up ! 

Mrs, B. {greeting each one in turn effusively). You dear 
thing ! I am so glad you've come ! {She gives Helen a 
gentle hug and kisses Elsie and Ray.) But you are five min- 
utes late and I v/as beginning to think you had forgotten me. 

3 



4 JUST A LITTLE MISTAKE 

R^Y^^ I (P^'^^^^^^'^S)' Oh, Mrs. Ball ! 

Elsie. Aunt Carryl ! 

Helen. You know we wouldn't miss a pleasant afternoon 
with you for all the world. 

Mrs. B. [drawing Helen's arTu through hers and comiiig 
forivard). Oh, you blarney ! 

Ray (^ going to the other side of Mus. B. and putting a strong 
arm about her). Did we ever refuse one of your invitations ? 
Tell me that ! 

Mrs. B. No, you have been very good to me. 

Ray {givijig Mrs. B. a squeeze). Good to her ! Hear 
that, Elsie ! When she is always giving us some sort of a jolly 
time ! 

Elsie (who has go?ie to the mirror and is taking off her hat 
and arra?igi?ig her hair). She sounds very humble to-day. 
What's the trouble. Auntie? 

Mrs. B. (with a sigJi). I am going to commit the greatest 
crime that a hostess can. 1 am going out and leave my guests. 

Elsie {turning fro7n the mirror). Auntie ! 

rIy^^' I ^^^ ^°"'^ • ^'^^^^ ' 

Mrs. B. 1 must. But I have something pleasant to tell 
you, too. 

{She and Helen and Ray go to sofa and Elsie crosses 
slowly after them.) 

Elsie. ~\ 

Helen. \ What is it? 

Ray. 3 

Mrs. B. I am going to ask you all to stay to dinner. 

Elsie ") f Good ! 

Helen V {together). -• Splendid ! 

Ray 3 ( Fine ! 

Mrs. B. {as she, Helen and Ray sit on sofa) . How good 
and splendid and fine it is will depend on what sort of a cook 
I find. That is what I am going out for. (Elsie perches on 
right arfn of the sofa.) Yesterday my waitress eloped with 
the gardener, and at noon to-day my cook left without warning, 

Ray. Made a clean sweep of the servants' quarters ! 

Helen. Isn't that too bad ! 

Elsie. A perfect tragedy ! 



JUST A LITTLE MISTAKE 5 

Mrs. B. {optimistically). Oh, I don't know that it is. I 
may get very much better ones next time. I would not mind 
at all if I were not expecting a stranger here to-night. 

Elsie '\ 

Helen \ (eagerly). A stranger ! Who ? 

Ray ) 

Mrs. B. a man I have never heard of before. Over there 
on the table, Elsie, you will find the cablegram from your Aunt 
Lucy. (Elsie goes to table beneath mirror and gets the paper 
while Mrs. B. goes on talking to Helen a?idKAY.) You see, 
Lucy is my youngest sister, and I suppose it is because she is 
the family baby that she has been so spoiled. At any rate, 
she is the most irresponsible creature in the world — and so ex- 
travagandy economical ! Here she has sent me a cablegram — 
{taking it from Elsie) — thank you, dear — a nice, brief, eco- 
nomical one — and in less than twenty-four hours she will have 
to send another to tell what it is all about. That is the way 
she always does. {Reads.) "Jerry arrives Monday. Be 
cordial." {Folds up the paper.) That is all she says. I 
don't know whether Jerry is black or white. But {with sudden 
conviction), I'll wager there is something wrong with him when 
she spends precious dollars begging me to be cordial ! {Rises 
and crosses to r.) Maybe he isn't a man at all ! Per- 
haps he is a giraffe or an elephant ! It would be just like 
Lucy to send home some perfectly useless thing like that and 
expect me to rave over it. 

Ray {bouncing up a?id crossing to Mrs. B.). Never mind, 
we'll stand by you. 

Helen {ju7npi?ig up a7id following Ray). Yes, we'll stand 
by and feed the animals peanuts ! 

Elsie {crossing to c). And we'll get the cage ready, too. 

Ray {at Mrs. B.'s side). Yes, Mrs. Ball, while you are out 
can't we wash dishes or make beds or do something to help 
you in the housekeeping line? 

Mrs. B. {taking her gloves from table beneath mirror and 
going to c. ivhile Elsie crosses to r.). Oh, no. I have 
been busy all morning and the house is in perfect order. {She 
goes toward hall door. ) There is nothing you can do for me 
except {gesticulating with her gloves) — if Jerry comes, be 
cordial ! 

Helen {at r.). Oh, we will !- 

Ray {at c). We'll entertain him well ! Won't we, girls? 

Elsie (^/R.). Of course. 



6 JUST A LITTLE MISTAKE 

Mrs. B. {al hail door pufli?ig o?i her gloves). I have sev- 
eral errands to do but 1 am going to the employment agency 
first and hope they will send a cook up before I return so be 
watching for her, and don't be surprised at what comes. I 
have had some remarkable specimens from that place. Good- 
bye. [Exit. 

Elsie. ^ 

Helen, v Good-bye ! 

Ray. 3 

Elsie. Isn't this a jolly mystery ? 

Helen. Yes, isn't it ! 

Mrs. B. Uojnifig back to the door again). Jerry, you know, 
might come any minute, and if he does, be 

^l^\A{^^^'K^fii^^g)- Cordial! We will. {Waving.) Good- 

Mrs. B. (smilifig and nodding). Good-bye ! [Exit. 

Helen {taking off her hat at mirror). Oh, girls, what do 
you suppose is coming anyway ? 

Ray {removing her hat and throiving it on table). Why, I 
imagine it is one of those students Mrs. Ball's sister has met 
abroad. 

Elsie {taking her hag from table beneath mirror). She has 
been studying music abroad for three years and she must know 
a lot of 'em. She brought some perfectly stunning photographs 
the last time she came home. 

Helen {arranging her hair at mirror). What do you 
fancy Jerry looks like ? 

Ray {takifig bag from table and striding over to sofa). 
Tell me first where Jerry comes from. Where is your aunt, 
Elsie? 

Elsie {following Ray to sofa and sitting beside her). The 
last letter we had was from Berlin, but before that she spent 
some time in Paris, and she sent the cablegram from London. 
Last year she was in Rome. He might be one of her Italian 
friends. Still, Jerry sounds English to me — but it might be a 
nickname. 

Ray {sewing). I think it is a nickname for Giovanni, and 
he is a dear, dainty little Italian with wonderful brown eyes and 
a tenor voice, and a sparkling smile and a lazy grace and a 

Helen {jvith a wave of her bag as she comes quickly across 
the roofn). No ! Jerry is a German — a great big tall one with 
blue eyes and blond hair, and I don't know what sort of a 



JUST A LITTLE MISTAKE 7 

voice he has, but he can sing '■^ Ich liebe dich^^ till everything 
rattles. 

Elsie. You are both as wrong as you can be ! I know 
what he looks like as well as if I had seen him. He is an 
Englishman — a tall, slender, well-built perfect gentleman. You 
know the kind. 

Helen {si(ti?ig at small table at r. of sofa and openitig a box 
of candy which she has brought). Oh, no. He isn't a bit like 
that, but I am sure he is a duke or something. Have some 
chocolates. {Passes candy.) 

Ray (taking candy). Or at least he is a baron or a count. 

Elsie {with an excited gesture). Why, of course he is ! 
That is why Aunt Lucy cabled, •'* Be cordial ! " 

Helen \dramaiically). Girls ! I prophesy there will be a 
romantic ending to this ! 

Ray. And who'll be the heroine? 

Helen. That remains to be seen. 

Ray. Just like all fortune tellers, you leave out the impor- 
tant part 1 

Helen. Oh, no ! I just like to leave a little bit to the im- 
agination. Drop a hero in our midst and {Bell rings.) 

All {jumping up excitedly). Gracious ! He's here ! 

Elsie. Do you think it is? 

Helen. Who is going to let him in ? 

Ray. It is your place, Elsie ; you are nearest of kin. 

Elsie {movi?ig Jiervo us ly forward). Oh, no, no ! I can't ! 

Ray (gathering up the sewing thittgs). Don't be silly ! 

Helen. Yes, don't be silly. It is a privilege to meet him 
first. 

Elsie {fluttering back to sofa). You take the privilege 
then. 

Helen {crossing to c). I v/ouldn't like to push in ahead 
of you, honey. (Bell rings again.) 

Ray {crossing to r., and throwing sewing things dotvn on 
table). I'll go to the door. I am ashamed of you both. The 
idea of keeping any one waiting like this ! 

{She starts up toward hall door, but Helen runs ahead of 
her.) 

Helen (running 2ip). Oh, you needn't be a martyr ! 
I'll go. 

Elsie {jumping up from sofa and taking a few steps after 
Helen). You're a dear! {Bell rings again.) But hurry up! 



8 JUST A LITTLE MISTAKE 

Helen {tur7iing back at door), if he is a duke what shall I 
say to him? 

Ray {coming dowti). Why, just say: "Glad to see you ! 
Come on in." 

Helen {coming down very much agitated). Oh, no, no ! 
There is some title you ought to use. 

Elsie ingoing to her). Yes, I know. It is ''Your Grace." 

Helen {going up agaiti). That's it ! 

Ray {at k.). But maybe he isn't a duke. 

Elsie. No, he might be a count. 

Ray. Or an elephant ! 

Helen {hurrying excitedly tip toward the door and down 
again). What shall I do ! What shall I do ! 

Elsie {trying to shoo her out). Go on! Go on! He 
might not wait. 

Ray {bracing up afid stridiiig to c). This is being cordial, 
isn't it? 

Helen {with a toss of her head, coming down c). If you 
don't like the way I am doing it, you let him in. 

Elsie {r uniting to Ray and pleading rapidly). Yes, honey, 
you let him in. You're such a nice, big, strong, fine, calm sort 
of a girl, and you always do everything just right. Go on, 
honey, sweetness, dear ! You let him in. 

Ray {striding bravely up to door). Of course I will I I'd 
like to do it. I've just been waiting for the chance. {Stops 
abruptly and faces down.) But suppose he can't speak 
English? 

Helen {stamping her foot impatiently). Well, suppose he 
can't ! Go on I 

Ray {coining doivn). But I can't be cordial in some language 
I don't know. Elsie speaks French and you speak German — 
either one of you shf)uld go to the door. 

Elsie (coming doivn c, and wringing her hands). Dear 
me ! Isn't this dreadful ! What will he think of us? 

Helen. Suppose we all go ! 

Ray. Good! We'll share the honor. {Takes Elsie by 
the shoulders and pushes her quickly up to the door. ) Come on ! 
Hurry up ! 

Elsie. Helen I 

Helen {running after them). I'm coming ! 

Ray {at the door). Now, let us all go out with a welcoming 
smile ! 

{They run out, s?niling brOiully.) 



JUST A LITTLE MISTAKE 9 

Enter the neiv Cook at r. He is a 7iondescript sort of crea- 
ture, short and stout, and wears a long belted Russian 
coat, red tie, white vest, and high hat. A small, black, 
pointed moustache adorns his 2ipper lip, a?id he carries a 
black bag on which are the large white letters J. L. W, 
H. T. He looks aboitt, shrugs and cojnes dowfi. 

Cook {coming down). Pfui-i ! Zere ees nobody here ! I 
runs all zee way from zee agency to cook somezing quick for zee 
madam ; she had such a hurry-up on. I guess maybe she takes 
her hurry-up off again. {Down c, looks about approvingly.) 
It ain't so bad here. Hmm-m ! {Discovers candy.) Ah-h ! 
Have some, Monsieur ? Shu-ure ! Vhy not ? {Helps hifn- 
self and eats with great satisfaction.) Excellently ! I am a 
cook ; I know vat ees good. Have more, Monsieur ! Vhy 
not? 

{He is about to help himself to more when the girls come 
rushing in from the hall a?id he turns, startled.) 

Girls {stoppi?ig abruptly as they see him). Oh ! 

Helen {tragically). Jerry ! 

Elsie {coming dow?i l.). Is it really you? 

Cook. Cer-rtainly I am me, myself; vhy not? 

Ray {to the girls, reprovingly). Of course it is he. Can't 
you see the letters on his bag? Don't make things any more 
awkward than they are ! {Heartily to the Cook as she comes 
down to him.) We are so glad to see you ! It was so good of 
you to come, and we are going to try to give you a good time. 
I hope you will like it here. 

Cook. Veil, I hope I vill ! 

Ray. You m.ust tell us what you like to do. 

Cook {shrugging). Veil, I ain't so particulars; I do mos' 
any zings. 

Ray {rattling on). There is a jolly little lake to canoe on, 
and fine roads for autoing, and I have a splendid saddle horse 
that you may use. And there are wonderful golf links ! Do 
you like golf? 

Cook. I haff neffer tasted it. Ees golf links some new 
eemported sausages? 

'K\Y {shocked). Oh, no! It is hke— like Well, I'll 

teach you all about it. 

Cook {bowing). Madam, you are kind. {As Ray turns 
from him.) Zee more you teach me zee more you pay. 



10 JUST A LITTLE MISTAKE 

Ray {beckoning to Helen and Elsie who stand down y^.^ 
shocked and ejnbarrassed'). Come on ! Don't make me do it 
all ! {To Cook.) And I'll teach you all about tennis, too. 

Cook {bowing). Merci, Madam! {As Ray strides over 
to other girls.) Vat a funny blace ! Vat a funny peoples ! 

Ray {to girls'). Aren't you ashamed of yourselves ? 

Helen {with a gesture of protest). But he is so perfectly 
dreadful ! 

Ray. He is probably a count. I'm going to find out about 
that. 

Elsie. Nothing less than a duke would dare dress as he 
does I 

Ray {shoving ^hsm forward). Go on and do your part. 

Elsie {advancing tifnidly). I am glad to see you — er — 
Mr. Shall I call you Mr. Jerry ? 

Cook {bowing). I am honored, madam ! 

Ray {to Elsie, as she strides back to l.). Oh, wake up 1 
Put a little warmth and sparkle in it ! {Brightly to Cook.) 
Perhaps v/e ought to call you count. Do you like that better ? 

Cook. Shu-ure; vhy not? 

Helen {coming over with a suddcfi air of determination). 
How do you do, er — count ? 

Cook (drawifig himself a7id smilifig a broad, satisfied smile). 
It looks like I vas going to ^o fine / 

Elsie {placing chair at c). Won't you sit here, Count 
Jerry ? 

Cook. Merci, Madam. Vhy not? 

{He sits, placing bag on floor before hi?n ivith letters out, 
and there it remains during the rest of the play.) 

Ray {as Helen runs to get another chair). That's the 
way ! Be cordial ! Be alive ! {At Cook's l.) Oh, count, 
won't you tell us about your trip over? 

Cook. Certain, Madam. It vas a fine trip over. I tripped 
right over zee scrub-pail onto my face flat. 

Girls {not sure whether to laugh or not). Oh ! 

Cook. Zee pail went also flat. {Girls giggle.) 

Helen {sitting at his r.). What a delightful little story ! 

Elsie. Please tell us something else, count. 

Helen {fafining vigorously). And it is such a warm day 
I will fan you while you talk. 

Cook {leaning back comfortably). Ahh-h ! So deliciously ! 



JUST A LITTLE MISTAKE II 

(IVifh a wave toward the fan.) How beautifully could you 
beat zee eggs ! 

Helen {stops fanningy half indignant). Beat eggs ! 

Cook (sweetly'). For zee angel cake ! 

Helen (pleased). Oh! How beautifully you give com- 
pliments ! 

Ray {goifig to sofa). Come over here on the sofa, count. 
It is so much more sociable. 

Cook (quickly followi?ig Ray). Eggsently fine ! Ah-h ! 
(Sits beside Ray.) Could I stay foreifer ! 

Helen (to Ray, risi?ig). You mean thing ! 

(She sits on sofa at Cook's l. Elsie takes chair at r. of 
sofa.) 

Ray. You must have met a lot of interesting people, count, 
and I wish you would tell us about them. 

Helen (fanning Cook). And you must have been to a 
great many interesting places. 

Cook (beaming). Blaces ! I haff had many blaces but 
neffer — ahh-h, neffer did I haff- one so luffly as here ! 

Elsie. I am afraid you flatter us, count. 

Cook. Oh, no. I am zee only honest man ! 

(Bell ritigs and Elsie rises.) 

HELEN. } Yo" go. Elsie. 
Ray. It is probably the cook. 
Elsie (going). Probably. 

Cook (interested). Zee cook } How many cooks vill you 
haff? [£'^// Elsie. 

Helen. Only one, but 

Cook (rising). Zen maybe I mus' go. 

HElEN.}0h'"°' Don't go! 

Ray. Mrs. Ball will do anything in the world to make you 
comfortable. She will hire half a dozen cooks if you think we 
need them. 

Helen. She'll do more than that ! She is the loveliest 
hostess, the most hospitable woman in the world ! 

Ray. And she was so sorry not to be here to receive you 
herself ! 



12 JUST A LIT'lLE MISTAKE 

Cook [dropping back on sofa). Veil, how I can vender ! 
Enter Mrs. B. briskly from hall. 

Mrs. B. {coining dotvn). Oh, girls, I have hurried so 1 am 
all out of breath. {The three on the sofa jump up with ex- 
clamations of surprise.) Oh, I — I beg your pardon! 

Ray {stepping forward with Cook). Mrs. Ball, this is 
Count Jerry. 

Cook {bozvitig low). Madam ! 

Mrs. B. Count Jerry ! {Makes a desperate effort to re- 
cover from her astonishnient.) I — I — oh, you must excuse 
me ! 

Cook {ainiably). Shu-ure, I don't care how soon you go. 

Helen. Oh, Mrs. Ball, Count Jerry was just going to tell 
us about his travels. 

Mrs. B. How lovely ! 

Ray. He has been to so many places and seen so much ! 

Enter Elsie from r. Helen, Ray and Cook talk together 
while Elsie talks to Mrs. B. 

Elsie {comifig down quickly to Mrs. B. at c). Oh, Auntie, 
I am so glad you are back ! The cook has come and I have 
told her to serve tea at once. But it was the hardest thing to 
get her to do it ! She just wants to stand and talk. But 1 
couldn't listen to her now. I told her we had company and 
where to find things for the tea and then I came in and left her. 

Mrs. B. That's right. It is the only way to manage that 
kind. {Telephone bell rings.) 

Elsie {ru?ini?ig tip). I'll go. 

Mrs. B. [Joining the group at l. where they are having a 
jolly titne with jokes and the candy box). You will find us 
v^ery dull and quiet here, Count Jerry. 

{They offer her candy and continue to chat.) 

Elsie {at 'phone up r.). Hello ! Oh, how are you, Mrs. 
Easton ? Yes. Yes, it was Auntie. She went to the agency 
only a little while ago. What ! A suspicions character ! 
{The people at l. begin to listen.) Escaped from the peni- 
tentiary ! A nice looking, genteel little woman ! Yes, the one 
they sent here is just like that. I am so glad you told us ! 
Yes, we'll be careful ! Indeed we will ! 



JUST A LITTLE MISTAKE 1 3 

Mrs. B. {comi7ig up a Utile). What is it ? 

rIy^^ I {Mowing Mrs. B.). What's the matter ? 

Elsie {Iianging up receiver and coming down excitedly). 
We have an escaped convict in our kitchen ! Mrs. Easton says 
so. She left the penitentiary a few days ago and went to the 
agency here and registered. And, Auntie, you got her ! 

Mrs. B. {indignant). Well, 1 won't keep her ! 

Elsie. And I told her to serve tea ! She might poison 
us all ! 

Helen {at l.). Oh, count ! I am so glad you are here ! 

Cook. Hmm-m-m ! Veil, may bees I ain't. 

Mrs. B. What does she look like, Elsie ? 

Elsie. Oh, she is a nice looking little thing, but very tear- 
ful. She cried when I asked her to serve tea. 

Ray {coming down, c). Oh, yes. 1 know that type. 
Alas, that my poor father lost his fortune for I'd look as well 
in the parlor as you ! 

Helen {runnitig up to door at ^.). I am going to look at 
her. 

Ray {following Helen). Open the door a little. 

Mrs. B. (^following Ray). Be careful ! Don't let her see 
you ! 

Elsie {^following Mrs. B.). Oh, don't ! It might make 
her angry ! 

Ray. And more desperate ! 

Cook {^following Elsie cautiously). And more poisoning ! 

(Helen opens the door on a crack and they all try to look 
over her shoulder.) 

Elsie. Be careful ! 
Helen. Do you see her ? 
Ray. No. Open it wider. 
Mrs. B. She must be over by the stove. 
Cook. Ssssh ! You look so loud she vill hear ! 
Elsie {as Helen opens door a little zvider). Careful ! Oh, 
be careful I 

Mrs. B. Hush ! Can you see her ? What is she doing ? 

(Helen screams and slams the door shut and they all start 
back stumbling over each other ifi their fright.) 

All {in hoarse whispers). What? Did you see her? 



14 JUST A Ll'lTLE MLSTAKE 

Helen {coming dowti). No, but 1 heard her groaii ! 
Didn't you hear it? 

Elsie. Maybe she has 

Ray. Taken her own tea ! (^They all come dowji.') 

Cook. I hope she takes it all ! 

Helen. Oh, I wish she would go away ! 

Mrs. B. I wush 1 dared send her ! Oh, count, won't you 
doit? 

Ray. All you need do is to step to the door and say, 
"Go!" 

Mrs. B. Yes, one look at you and she'd run. 

Helen. Please hurry ! 

Elsie. She might come in here and shoot us any niinute ! 

Ray (/(? Cook). And you are so brave ! 

Mrs. B. And so strong ! 

Helen. And so imposing ! 

Elsie. And you know so much ! 

Cook {coming down). Veil, anyway, I knows too much to 
go zee troubles hunting. 

{A loud noise is heard in the kitchen a?id ivith shrieks the 
girls all hide behind the CoOYi, placing hi?n betiveen them 
afid the door.) 

Helen. She is coming I 

Ray. Save me ! 

Mrs. B. Send her away ! 

Elsie. Mercy ! 

Cook. Go vay ! {The noise is heard again and in the 
screaming a?id confusiofi this time the Cook gets behifid the 
girls.) Help ! 

Helen. Where is she ? 

Mrs. B. Listen ! {There is a strained silence while they 
all with bulging eyes turfi toward the door and listen.) Not a 
sound ! What do you suppose is the matter? What can have 
happened? {Goes up wringi?ig her hands.) I can't stand 
this another minute ! I must go and see what has happened ! 

Elsie {running after her). Oh, don't go, Auntie ! 

Helen {followijig'Ei.siv.). Oh, Mrs. Ball, don't ! 

Ray {following Helen). Oh, please don't go ! 

Mrs. B. {approaching door at R.). I must. 

Ray. You don't know what you might find. 

Helen. It isn't safe, Mrs. Ball. 



JUST A LITTLE MISTAKE 1 5 

Elsie (grasping Mrs. B.'s arjn). Oh, Auntie, come back I 

Mrs. B. (wiih her hand on the door knob). No, this is my 
house and it is my duty to go. But it may lead to very un- 
pleasant things, girls, and 1 warn you, you'd better stand back. 

Elsie. ^ 

Helen. V Oh, no, we'll stay with you ! 

Ray. 3 

Mrs. B. Well, if you will stay, be prepared for the worst ! 
Ready ! {She throws the door wide open.) Gone ! 

Elsie. ") 

Helen. V Gone ! 

Rav. J 

Mrs. B. What a narrow escape ! 

{They all face down. The Cook, who has in the mean- 
time thrown himself 07i the sofa and tried to hide under 
the cushions^ now jumps up with a dramatic gesture.) 

Cook. I have safed you all ! 

(Jerry, a slender, meek looki?ig girl appears in the hall door- 
way with a tea tray in her ha?ids.) 

Jerry. Shall I serve tea here ? 

{All scream and Mrs. B. and the girls staf?tpede down R. 
while the Cook dives back agai?i among the sofa cushions. ) 

Mrs. B. {quickly recovering some presence of mind and 
crossing to l. while the Cook cautiously rights himself and 
looks around). Oh, yes, yes. You may serve it right here 
at this little table. Just set your tray down here. 

Jerry {settiftg her tray on table before sofa). Are you Mrs. 
Ball ? 

Mrs. B. {nervously arranging the tray). Yes. Oh, yes, 
yes. I am Mrs. Ball. This is all right. Now you may go 
back to the kitchen. 

Jerry {tremulously). But, Mrs. Ball, didn't you expect me? 

Mrs. B. Why, yes, of course I expected you, but you can't 
stay, you know. 

Jerry. I can't stay ! Oh ! Boo-hoo-hoo ! What shall 
I do! 

Mrs. B. {following Jert^y up). Oh, you poor girl ! I 

Now don't feel so bad about it. Perhaps — if you behave your- 
self 



1 6 JUST A LITTLE MISTAKE 

Jerry (/// c, turning and facing doivn'). Behave myself! 
Oh, this is too much ! \_Exity sobbing. 

Cook {kissing his hand to her). Adieu ! 

rr / {ds Mrs. B., with a despairing gesture, cotnes 

^ X down). Now you have offended her ! 

Mrs. B. What could I do ! You know I could not keep 
her ! [Sinks down in chair beside table. ) Let's all have a 
cup of tea ! 

Elsie {as they all gather about the table). Oh, yes, let's do ! 

Ray. How cheery and comfortable and sane that sounds ! 

Helen. You drink tea, do you not, count? 

Cook {sitting in chair at l. of sofa). Oui, madam. Vhy 
not ? (Elsie, Helen and Ray sit on sofa.) Ven it ees good. 

Mrs. B. {serving). This is really very excellent tea. A 
friend who lives in India sends it to us every year. Cream 
and sugar, count? 

Cook. Merci, Madam. 

Mrs. B. {with sugar tongs poised). One lump or two? 

Cook {holding up fingers). Fife. 

Helen {at his r.). You like sweet things, don't you? 

Cook {edging his chair nearer). Oui. I likes all kinds of 
zee sweet zings. 

Helen {passifig them). Then have a cake. 

Cook. Shu-ure ! Vhy not? {He clears the plate.) But 
I likes better 

Elsie {passi?ig them). Bonbons? 

Cook. Shu-ure ! {He helps himself generously and begins 
to eat and drink greedily.) Ahh-h ! 1 have such a haj^piness 
that I came ! 

Mrs. B. {serving). I am so glad that you like it, count. 
To me this is one of the most delightful things in life — to 
gather about the tea table in the afternoon and have a nice, 

comfortable, friendly little gossip. It is so cozy and — and 

{To Elsie who is froivning over her tea.) Why, what is the 
matter, Elsie? 

Elsie. It has a peculiar taste, Auntie. Haven't you 
noticed it, girls ? 

Helen {jujnpitig up). It is poisoned ! Don't you re- 
member ? 

All. Poisoned ! 

Cook {rising). Vat you say? 

Helen {to Cook). You didn't drink any, did you? 



JUST A LITTLE MISTAKE 1 7 

Cook {iragicaUy holding out his empty cup). I haff taken 
zee whole dose ! {As Helen takes Jiis plate and cup.) 1 haff 
such a bain ! I vas so seek ! 

(He groans terrifically and the others all gather around 
him.) 

Mrs. B. Where are you sick ? 

Ray. What can I do for him ? 

Elsie. How do you feel badly ? 

Helen. Oh, you poor man ! 

Cook {sinking down on sofa with a loud groaji). So-o 
se-ek ! 

Mrs. B. Fan him. Some one get him a glass of water ! 
Put a pillow under his head. Are you better now ? Oh, 
somebody do something for him ! 

{They all flutter about arranging pillows, fanning him and 
trying to make him comfortable while he groans so that 
they do not hear the bell when it ri?igs.) 

Cook. Ooo-ooooo! Ow-oo ! I am terribles ! Oo-ooo-oo ! 

Mrs. B. (crossing to c, wringifig her hands). Oh, won't 
somebody do something ! 

Ray {to Cook). Can't you sit up? 

Helen. No, he'd better lie down. 

Elsie {steadying him ivith a pillow). I think you'd better 
make him sit up. 

Cook {groa?iing). I vish I am home ! 

Mrs. B. {coming back to table). Are you sure he drank it 
all? {Exa?nines cup.) Every last drop! {Goes excitedly 
back to c.) Isn't this frightful! Imagine having anyone 
poisoned right at your own tea table I 

Ray. He has stopped groaning ! 

Elsie. He is better ! {He lies back limply.) 

Helen. Oh, no, he is worse ! 

Elsie. Oh, Auntie ! Auntie ! Come here ! 

Mrs. B. {running to l.). What's the matter now ? 

Enter ]erry from hall. 

Jerry {coming dow?i). Mrs. Ball, here is a cablegram for 
you. 



l8 JUST A LITTLE MISTAKE 

Mrs. B. {waving her back). Never mind ! Never mind ! 
Go back to tlie kitchen. Haven't we trouble enough ! And 
it is all your fault, you wretched, wicked girl ! 

(Jerry, bursting into aiwther viole7it fit of sobbitig, goes up c.) 

Elsie {running after Jerry). The cablegram ! Give it 
to me. 

{She takes it from Jerry who goes out still sobbing.') 

Helen. Is it about him ? 

Mrs. B. {go i fig to Elsie at c). The second dispatch 1 I 
knew it would come ! 

(The Cook groans wildly and they all jump and scream.) 

Ray (bendifig anxiously over him). Are you worse ? 

(Mrs. B. and Elsie come back to sofa.) 

Cook. Shu-ure. I am terribles ! 

Mrs. B. Is he conscious ? 

Cook. No, I am only se-ek ! 

Helen. The cablegram, Mrs. Ball — what did it say ? 

Elsie {giving it to Mrs. B.). Yes, read it. Auntie. 

Mrs. B. {taking the envelope a?id goijig to c). I hope it is 
good news. 

Ray {7vith a sigh). I hope it is. {To Cook.) Are you 
better now ? 

Mrs. B. {down c, reading cablegram). Oh, girls ! Come 
here ! 

Girls {running to her). What is it ? 

Mrs. B. {as they crowd about her). It is dreadful ! 

Helen. More trouble ! 

Cook. I am terribles ! 

Ray {to Mrs. B.). About Jerry? 

Mrs. B. Yes. Listen. (Reads cablegram.) "Jerry a 
mistake ! " 

Elsie. Then he isn't coming ! 

• Mrs. B. {impressively). He didn't come ! 

Elsie. 

Helen. \- Oh-h-h ! 

Ray. 



JUST A LITTLE MISTAKE 1 9 

Helen {^turning to sofa iviiere Cook continues to groan). 
Then that isn't— — 

Mrs. B. {iniernipting). It can't be. 

Ray. But I wonder 

Girls. Who is it ? 

Helen. Maybe he is the escaped convict ! 

Mrs. B. (Jiurrying up r.). I am going to call the police ! 

Ray {bri?iging her back). No, it was a woman, don't you 
remember? 

Helen. ) ^r ., , 

Mrs. B. [Of''°"''=^"«'^'' 

Cook. I am terribles ! Cw-ooo-oo ! 

Mrs. B. We have poisoned him, whoever he is. (They all 
go over and flutter about the Cook again.) I wish somebody 
would do something for him ! 

Cook. Ooo-ooo-oo ! I am worser and worser ! 

Elsie. Poor man ! 



{She arranges his pillows.) 

Ray. We ought to find out who he is. 

Mrs. B. (to Cook). Who are you ? 

Cook. I am so se-ek. 

Elsie. But what is your name ? 

Cook. I don't care vhat you call me. Ooo-oo-o ! 

(Telephone bell rings.) 

Mrs. B. (hurryifig up to desk). I'll answer it. 

Helen. Maybe it is the police calling us up. 

Elsie. Would we have to go to court ? 

Ray. As witnesses, yes. 

Elsie. ) „■ . 

Helen. I Horrors! 

Mrs. B. (at 'phone while Helen and Elsie fan and fuss 
over the Cook, and Ray stands at r. of sofa and listens). 
Hello ! Cousin Hattie ! What ? ( To Girls.) Girls, hush ! 
(Speaks into 'pho?ie. ) Have we a little mistake here ? Oh, 
no, I should call it a great big blunder ! Why, I never in my 

life What ? Geraldine Take ! No, I never heard of 

her. Lucy sent her here ! A young English girl who doesn't 
know a soul in this country ! Jerry ! Jerry Take ! Well, 



20 JUST A LITTLE MISTAKE 

of all things ! (S/w ham^s up tlie receiver and liurrics down c.) 
Girls ! Jt-rry is a woman ! Her name is Geraldine Take. 

{Goes back to door at r.) 

Ray. ) 

Helen. >- A woman ! 

Elsie. ) 

Ray. Impossible ! 

Helen. This makes me dizzy. 

{Puts her hand to her head.) 

Elsie. Where is she ? 

Mrs. B. {throwing open door). Come here. (Jerry im- 
7?iediately enters sobbijig and Mrs. B. takes her by the artn and 
leads her down c.) Now don't cry any more. Dry your eyes. 
That's a good girl. Nobody is going to hurt you. 

Elsie {si?iki?ig limply into a chair at l.). What's going to 
happen now ? 

(Ray crosses to r.) 

Mrs. B. {to Jerry). All I want you to do is to tell me who 
you are. 

Ray. Yes, let's find out who somebody is ! 
Jerry. 1 am G-G-Geraldine T-Take. 
Girls. Jerry ! 

(Elsie yV/w/i- up.) 

Helen. Gracious ! 

Ray. Jiminy ! 

Elsie. Oh ! 

Cook. Ooo-oo-o 1 

Mrs. B. {taking Jerry in her arms). You poor, dear, 
abused, lonely little girl ! How can I ever forgive myself for 
treating you so ? 

Ray. Then you are not the cook ! 

Helen. And you didn't escape from the penitentiary ! 

Elsie. And you didn't put poison in the tea ! 

Jerry {dryi?ig her eyes). Of course I didn't. The idea ! 

Mrs. B. {ivith a sudden lunge toward the groaning Cook). 
Then there is nothing the matter with him ! 



JUST A LITTLE MISTAKE 21 

Helen. He is an impostor ! 
Elsie. A villain ! 
Ray. a sham ! 

{They all rush over to the sofa leaving the astonished Jerry 
standi?ig a little to the L. of c.) 

Mrs. B, {shaking the Cook). There is nothing the matter 
with you ! Not a thing in the world ! 

Helen {leaning over the back of sofa). You are just mak- 
ing believe. 

Ray Faking ! 

Elsie. You ought to be ashamed of yourself ! 

Cook {sitting up). Hey, vat you say? 

Mrs. B. There is nothing the matter with you. 

Ray. You are shamming. 

Cook {risi?ig). Vat ! Ain't I poisoned? 

Girls. No, you are not. 

Cook. Veil, I oughter be. 

Helen. Yes, you ought to be. You have nearly frightened 
us stiff. 

Ray {stepping up to him with a commanding air). Why 
did you tell us that you were Jerry ? 

Cook {retreating). Vhy, I neffer did ! 

Helen {coming up to him accusingly). And count ! Why 
did you tell us to call you count ? 

Cook {retreating toward R.). Vhy, I neffer did ! 

Elsie. ^ 

Helen. V Oh, you did so ! 

Ray. ) 

Cook. No, I neffer did. 

Mrs. B. {advancing toward him). Well, you let them call 
you Jerry. Why did you do that? Why didn't you tell them 
your name ? 

Cook {shrugging). Oh, my name ! Some blaces zay calls 
me Charlie, some blaces zay calls me James, Blockhead, Bone- 
head, Slowpoke ! Here zay calls me Sherry ! And I say, ven 
you like it vhy not ? 

Mrs. B. But what is your name ? 

Cook. Ven you asks me so zen I tells it. Jean Ludwig 
Wilhelm Nicholas Troubeautrominowski. 

Girls {throwing up their hands). Oh ! 

Mrs. B. And why did you come here? 



22 



JUiJT A LITILE MISTAKE 



Cook. Ze agency zay sends me in a hurry up to cook you 
soniezings quick. 
Mrs. B. 



Ray. 
Helen. 

Elsie. 

Cook. Shu-ure I am ze cook. I don't care ven I am. Vhy 
not? 
Mrs. B. 
Ray. 
Helen. 
Elsie. 



Then you are the cook ! 



{at c, shaking their fingers at him fiercely). 
The idea of passing yourself off as a count ! You 
wretched, wicked, horrid man ! I'd hke to 



Jerry {stepping quickly between the girls and the cringing 
Cook). Don't, please ! It was all my fault. And I am al- 
ways making trouble for people because, you see, I really am 
just — a little Miss Take. 



CURTAIN 



THE CHUZZLEWITS 

Or, TOM PINCH 

A Dramatization in Five Acts by F. E. Fowle of Charles 
Dickens* novel '' Martin Chuzzlewit " 

Fifteen males, six females. Costumes of the period ; scenery, four in^ 
teriors and one exterior. Plays a full evening. This version expands the 
story of Tom Pinch, already made popular in the comedy of that name, 
by the addition of the highly dramatic proceedings of the Chuzzlewit 
family, and thus provides a much stronger and more representative play. 
All the familiar characters of the novel appear and offer a great variety 
of exceptionally strong parts. Strongly recommended for schools. 
Price, 2^ cents 

CHARACTERS 

Mr. Seth Pecksniff, architect. Lewsome. 

Mr. Anthony Chuzzlewit. Mr. Nadgett. 

Mr. Jonas Chuzzlewit, his Mr. Moddle. 

son. Two Police Officers. 

Old Martin Chuzzlewit. Mary Graham. 

Martin Chuzzlewit, his Mercy Pecksniff. 

gratidson. Charity Pecksniff. 

Tom Pinch. Sarah Gamp. 

Mr. Montague Tigg. ^^tsy Vycig, a friend of Sarah* s. 

Old Chuffey. Jane, Pecksniff's servant. 

Bailey. Maid. 
Mr. Mould. 

SYNOPSIS 

Act I — Parlor at Mr. Pecksniff's. Wiltshire. 

Act II. — Room in house of Mr. Anthony Chuzzlewit. London. 

Act III. — Scene I : Garden at Mr. Pecksniff's. 

Scene 2 : Room in an Inn at Holborn. 
Act IV. — Scene i: Apartment at Montague Tigg's. London. 

Scene 2 : At Anthony Chuzzlewit' s— same as Act II. 
Act V. — The same as previous scene. 



ONE ON DICK 

A Comedy in Two Acts 
By Gladys Ruth Bridgham 
Six females. Costumes, modern; scenery, one easy interior. Plays 
one hour. Free of royalty. Just as the girls are trying on their costumes 
for amateur theatricals in the absence of their parents, who disapprove of 
such things. Aunt Elizabeth unexpectedly arrives on a visit, and simply 
has to be kept in the dark. Her confusion over the strange crowd into 
which she is plunged, and Evelyn's frantic search for some indiscreet 
letters that happen to be on the premises, afford a very amusing and ex- 
citing hour. Colored comedy character. Recommended. 
Price^ 3^ cents 



THE FIRST LADY OF THE LAND 

A Play in Four Acts 
By Charles Frederic Nirdliyiger 
Eleven male, eight female characters, and supers. Costumes, early 
American. Scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening. This charm- 
ing comedy, well remembered for the delightful performance of its leading 
part by Elsie Ferguson, is peculiarly well suited for school performance 
since its witty lines and lively incidents relate a story of American history 
and involve the personalities of Aaron Burr, James Madison, Alexander 
Hamilton and the charming Dolly Madison. For this reason and for its 
dramatic interest and rvalue it is strongly recommended. Amateurs may 
produce it on payment of a royalty of ^25.00. 
Pricey JO cents 

CHARACTERS 

Jambs Madison, Ccmgressinan from Virginia; ajterwards Secretary of Stai^ in 

Thomas Jefferson's cabinet. 
Aakox Burr, Senator from New York; afterwards Vice-President of the 

United States. 
BoHLEX PiNCKNEY, the PresidcuVs Secretary. 
Sir Anthony Mkrry, British Minister at Washington. 
Don Carlos Martinez, Marquis D'Yrujo, Spanish Minister at Wash' 

ington. 
MvNiiEER Van Bkbckel, Minister from the Netherlands. 
Lkiuis Andre Pichon, Charge d' Affaires for France. 
Jennings, servant at Dolly Todd's; lat-er at Madison's. 
De Vaux, Major-Domo at White House. 
The Cook. 
The Hair-dresser. 

Dolly Todd, afterwards Mrs. James Madison. 
Sally McKean, ctfterwards 3Iarchioness D' Yrvjo. 
Mrs. Sparkle. 

Sophia Hi'arkle, her daughter ; afterwards Madame Pichon. 
Lady Merry. 

The Honorable Ena Feerak, Lady Merry*s sister. 
Vrou Van Berckel. 
Minister From Russia and ") 

Countess Dashkoff V Silent figures M Act III. 

Minister From Turkey ) 
Clotilde. maid at Dolly Todd's. 
Footmen, Valets, Servants, Etc. 

THE ARRIVAL OF KITTY 

A Farce in Three Acts 
By Norma7i Lee Siuariout 
Five male, four female characters. Costumes, modern ; scenery, one 
interior. Plays a full evening, A piece in the " Charley's Aunt " class. 
Bobbie Baxter, pursuing his little love-affair with Jane agamst the opposi- 
tion of her uncle, William Winkler, has occasion to disguise himself in 
female costume, and is taken for Kitty, an actress and close friend of 
Winkler, to the vast confusion of everything and everybody. Very funny 
and strongly recommended. Has been played professionally over two 
thousand times and may be produced by amateurs for a royalty of ^ro.oo. 
Price, JO cents 

CHARACTERS 

William Winkler. Ting, a bell-boy. 

Aunt Jane, his sister. Sam, a colored porter, 

Jane, his niece. Kitty, an actress. 

Bobbie Baxter. Suzette, Aunt Janes maid. 

Benjamin More. 



MASTER PIERRE PATELIN 

A Farce in Three Acts 

Englished from an Early (1464) French Play 

By Dr. Richard T. Holbrook 

Of Bryn Matur College 
CHARACTERS 
Pierre Patelin, a lawyer. 

GUILLEMETTE, hlS Wife. 

GuiLLAUME JocEAULME, a draper. 
TiBALT Lambkin, a shepherd. 
The Judge. 

Four males, one female. Costumes of the period, amply suggested b;y 
reproductions of contemporary cuts; scenery, very simple and fully ex- 
plained. Plays an hour and a half. A popular edition of this well-known 
French farce for schools. Its literary and historical interest very great, 
it is perfectly actable and absolutely modern in its dramatic appeal to an 
audience, and uproariously funny in its effect if presented with even slight 
skill. Altogether an ideal offering for schools and colleges. Professor 
Holbrook's version, here offered, has been acted with distinguished suc- 
cess at Bryn Mawr College and at The Little Theatre in Philadelphia, 
and a version adapted from the Holbrook text by Professor George P. 
Baker was successfully given at his <* Workshop 47 " in Cambridge. 
Strongly recommended. Free of royalty for amateur performance. 
Price, 50 cents 

JOLLY PLAYS FOR HOLIDAYS 

A Collection of Christmas Plays for Children 
By Carolyn Wells 

COMPRISING 
The Day Before Christmas. Nine males, eight females. 
A Substitute for Santa Claus. Five males, two females. 
Is Santa Claus a Fraud ? Seventeen males, nine females and chorus. 
The Greatest Day of the Year. Seven males, nineteen females. 
Christmas Gifts of all Nations. Three males, three females and chorus. 
The Greatest Gift. Ten males, eleven females. 

The plays composing this collection are reprinted from " The Ladies' 
Home Journal " of Philadelphia and other popular magazines in answer 
to a persistent demand for them for acting purposes. Miss Wells' work 
requires no introduction to a public already familiar with her wit, her hu- 
mor and her graceful and abundant fancy, all of which attractive qualities 
are amply exemplified in the above collection. These plays are intended 
to be acted by young people at the Christmas season, and give ample sug- 
gestions for costuming, decoration and other details of stage production. 
These demands are sufficiently elastic in character, however, to make it 
possible to shorten and simplify the performance to accommodate almost 
any stage or circumstances. The music called for is of the simplest and 
most popular sort, such as is to be found in every household and memory. 
This collection can be strongly recommended. 

Price, cloth, post-paid by mail, bo cents net 



THE CAMP-FIRE GIRLS 

A Comedy in Four Acts 

By Walter Ben Hare 

Fifteen female characters and seven children who do not speak. Scenery, 
one interior and two exteriors; costumes modern and Indian. Plays a full 
evening. An admirable vehicle for spreading the principles of this help- 
ful order as well as an interesting and effective entertainment suitable for 
any occasion. Peggy Malone, the little drudge, is a part of enormous 
sympathy ; Zingara, the gypsy, very picturesque and dramatic ; and 
Mollie Mealy, the old maid, a scream. Very strongly recommended, 
Price^ 2S cents 

CHARACTERS 
Peggy Malone, a little drudge. 
Mrs. Bacon, a boarding-house keeper. 
Beulah Marie, her daugJiter, aged seventeen. 
Miss Henrietta Dash, a newspaper reporter. 
Miss Mollie Mealy, an old maid, so sentimental. 
Miss Lee, the guardian of the camp. 
Zingara, a wanderi?ig gypsy. 
Neeta, a little gypsy song-bird. 
Nell Mason 



Margery Gilmore 
Betty Thurston 
Nan Lester 
Melissa Hicks | 
Doris Gray | 

Phyllis Marvin } 



Camp-Fire Girls, 



SYNOPSIS FOR PROGRAMMES 

Act \. Christmas day in a boarding-house. The poor little 
drudge. Beulah entertains the camp. Peggy dreams. 

Act H. The dream. The Princess Pocahontas. 

Act UL Same as Act L The awakening. Her cup of misery. 

Act IV. A gypsy camp. The Carnegie medal. Happiness 
at last. 



OUR BOYS 

A Comedy in I'hree Acts 

By H. y. Byron 

A new edition of this evergreen comedy, reprinted from an acting copy 

and containing all the '* gags" and stage business employed in professional 

performances of tiie piece, arranged for amateur production by Frank W. 

Fowle, following the traditions of the Boston Museum. Starting with a 

run of more than 1,500 niglits in its original production, no existing play 

has had a larger or more universal success in the theatre than this. Very 

easy to produce and a sure hit in amateur theatricals. 

PricSf IS cents 



CLOSE TO NATURE 

A Farce in Four Acts 
By Norman Lee Swartout 
Author of « The Arrival of Kitty," " Half-Back Sandy," 
" One of the Eight," etc. 
Nine males, four females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, one interior 
and one exterior. Plays a full evening. Royalty for amateur perform- 
ance, $10.00 for one or $15.00 for two performances. Levasso Wellman, 
an unusually healthy individual, is persuaded by his wife, who has private 
reasons for the change connected with her daughter's engagement to the 
man of her mother's choice and the elimination of " the wrong man," to 
go to a remote health resort — Farm Springs. His experiences in this 
somewhat fraudulent institution are very funny and the defeat of mamma's 
matrimonial politics turns out all right for the daughter. Well recom- 
mended. Price, 50 cents 

CHARACTERS 
Lavasso Wellman, a lawyer. 
Ted, his small son. 

Doctor Boxill, Mrs. Wellman s brother. 
Clayton Holmes, a poor young man. 
Hugh Killroy, a rich young man. 
Alonza K. Dewsnap, editor of a health magazine. 
Sidney Muirhead, a Canadian farmer. 
Jim J arks, a backwoodsman. 
A Chauffeur. 
Mrs. Wellman. 
Barbara, Wellman s daughter. 
Carrie, a maid. 
Mrs. Muirhead. 
Mike, Ted's dog. 

The part of Ted, who is supposed to be nine years old, may be 
very effectively played by an older boy of small stature, by a girl 
or by a child. 

SYNOPSIS 

Act I. Mr. Wellman's Library, New York. An evening in June. 

Act n. Farm Spring Hotel, Canada. Two days later. 

Act hi. Same as Act H. A few minutes later. 

Act IV. Same as Act I. Five days later. 

JACK'S BROTHER'S SISTER 

A Sketch in One Act 
By Pauline Phelps and Marion Short 
One male, one female. Costumes, modern ; scene, an interior. Plays 
twenty minutes. No royalty. Petunia, visiting her brother Jack in his 
college room, encounters his chum., who has never seen her, and falls 
under suspicion of being mixed up in some Junior-Senior politics. Their 
interview, complicated with a red skirt and a riding habit, is most in- 
geniously and amusingly conducted. Very bright and strongly recom- 
mended. 

Priciy IS cents 



Plays That We Can Recommend 

j^cti Male! Females Time 

FOR FEMALE CHARAC TERS ONLY 

The Bewildering Miss Felicia 3 o 14 2^^ 

A Case for Sherlock Holmes 2 o 10 i;5h 

Cupid's Partner 3 o 12 2h 

The Farmerette 3 o 7 2h 

A Girl in a Thousand . . 4 o 14 2l^h 

rier First Assignment (15c.) i o 10 in 

How the Club was Formed (15c.) . . . i o 18 i^h 

How the Story Grew (15c ) i o 8 45m 

Leave It to Polly 2 o 11 i^^h 

Lucia's Lover 3 o 8 i>^h 

Miss Fearless & Co. 3 o 10 2^h 

Modern Sewing Society (15c.) i o 14 45m 

Our Church Fair 2 o 12 i%h. 

Packing of the Home Missionary Barrel (15c.) i o 10 30m 

Six Times Nine 2 o 11 i^h 

Suffragettes' Convention i i 12 i^h 

Suffragettes' Town Meeting i o 20 ih 

Virginia Heroine 3 o 11 i^h 

Voice of Authority 3 o 7 2h 

FOR MALE CHARACTERS ONLY 

The Boy Scouts 3 20 o 2h 

First Day of the Holidays (15c.) 4 6 o i^h 

First National Boot (15c.) 2 7 2 ih 

Half Back's Interference ( 15c.) i 10 o 40m 

A New Start (15c.) 4 7 2 ij^h 

On the Quiet 2 12 o ly^h. 

A Regular Rah I Rah! Boy 3 14 o i^h 

A Regular Scream 2 11 o i^h 

Too Clever by Half (15c.) 3 6 2 i^h 

Tramps' Convention i 17 o i)^h 

The Turn in the Road (15c.) 2 9 o i^h 

Wanted, a Pitcher (15c.) i 11 o 30m 

ENTER TAINMENTS 

Aunt Jerusba's Quilting Party i 4 12 ih 

The District School i 12 17 ih 

Miss Prim's Kindergarten i 10 11 i^h 

A Pageant of History 6 15 9 2^h 

Scenes in the Union Depot i 24 18 i^h 

Taking the Census in Bingville i 14 8 i^h 

The Village Post-Office i 22 20 2h 

Price, 2J cents each tiuless otherwise stated 

BAKER, 5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Mass. 



NO TRESPASSING 

A Play in Three Acts 
By Evelyn Gray Whititig 
Six males, five females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, a single easy in- 
terior. Plays two hours. Free of royalty. Lisle Irving, a lively " city 
girl," goes down into the country on a vacation and to get rid of a hus- 
band of her father's choice whom she has never seen, and runs into the 
very man living there under another name. He meets her by accident 
and takes her to be one of a pair of twins who have been living at the 
farmhouse. She discovers his mistake and in the character of both twins 
in alternation gives him the time of his life, incidentally falling in love 
with him. An unusual abundance of good comedy characters, including 
one — Bill Meader— of great originality and humor, sure to make a big 
hit. Strongly recommended. 

Price, 2J cents 

CHARACTERS 
Bill Meader, "on the town.'" 

Jim Meader, son of Bill, a boy of sixteen to eighteen. 
Mr. Palmer, a New Englatid farmer. 
Cleveland Tower, a young city fellow, guest of Raynor. 
Herbert Edmand Raynor, a young Englishman. 
Mr. Irving, father of Lisle. 
Lisle Irving, a girl of seve7tteen. 
Peggy Palmer, a girl of eighteen or twenty. 
Mrs. Palmer, Peggy s inother. 
Barbara Palmer, a girl of ten or twelve years^ 
Almeda Meader, a girl about Barbara s age. 

THE GIRL UP-STAIRS 

A Comedy in Two Acts 

By Gladys Ruth Bridgham 

Seven females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, an interior. Plays an 

hour. Daisy Jordan, crazy to get " on the stage," comes to New York 

and starves there in a lodging house waiting for her chance. She schemes 

to get an interview with Cicely Denver, a popular actress, to act before 

her, but the result is not at all what she intended. A capital play with 

strong and ingenious opportunities for good acting. Recommended. 

Price, ij cents 

TICKETS, PLEASE ! 

A Comedy in One Act 
By Irving Dale 
Four females. Costumes, modern and fashionable ; scenery, an in- 
terior, not important. Plays twenty minutes. Mignon asks Charlotte to 
get the theatre tickets, Charlotte asks Maude to get them, Maude hands 
over three to Linda, who leaves two at Mignon's house after she has left 
home. But they get to the theatre somehow. Bright, funny and char- 
acteristic. Strongly recommended. Price, i^ cents 



THE DUTCH DETECTIVE 

A Farce in Three Acts 

By Walter Ben Hare 

Five males, five females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, one interior. 

Plays two hours. Otto Schmultz's pursuit of divers criminals according 

to correspondence school methods affords two hours of side-splilting fun. 

Every part a good one. Good for any purpose. 

Pricey 2^ cc7its 

CHARACTERS 

Otto Schmultz, a correspondence-school detective. 

Plunk Jarleckl, escaped from the asylum. 

Jabo Grabb, the police force of Splinterville. 

Major Hannibal Howler, on the war-path. 

Augustus Coo, a newly-wed. 

Gladys Howler-Coo, his bride, the Major s daughter. 

Ambrosia McCarty, tJie queen of the lunch room. 

Miss Araminta Sourdrops, who loses her Jabo. 

HoRTENSEY Smatters, escaped from the asylum. 

Katrina Kraut, /?w;; Hamilto7i Cidy by der Schtate of Ohio. 

SYNOPSIS 
Act I. The railroad station at Splinterville. Lovers and lunatics. 
Act n. The same. Votes for women. 
Act ni. The same. The midnight choo-choo. 

A STRING OF PEARLS 

A Comedy in One Act 

By Claire Wallace Flynn 

Two males, four females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, an interior. 

Plays half an hour. Peggy Madison, in a fit of spite about a string of 

pearls, tries to complicate her sister Ethel's little love-affair, but after some 

amusing tactics only succeeds in bringing matters to an understanding. 

Bright and lively ; all parts good ; recommended for schools. 

Pricey 75 cents 



A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM 

A Comedy in Three Acts 
By William Shakespeare 
Thirteen males, ten females. Costumes, appropriate ; scenery, varied, 
or may be dispensed with. Plays a full evening. An arrangement of this 
play for scliools and colleges. The growing demand for this play for 
school performance has led to the preparation of this addition to the 
popular Wiliiam Warren edition. This play is singularly well adapted 
for performance under simple conditions, meagreness of production tend- 
ing to enhance the value and effect of its beautiful lines. Tlie less scenery, 
w a rule, the more satisfactory the effect both as drama and as literature 
IViccy IS cents 



THE GIRL FROM UPPER 7 

An Original Comedy in Three Acts 
By Gladys Ruth Bridg^ham 
Ten males, eleven females. Scene, an easy interior, same for all three 
acts; costumes, modern and rough Western. Plays about two hours. 
The building of the W. R. & C. R. R. across a corner of Lower 7 Ranch 
brings about a state of war between the contractor's party and the ranch- 
men at a time v/hen McShane, the head of the former's forces, is ill and in- 
capable. His daughter. Genie, takes charge and by dint of sheer femi- 
nine pluck and resourcefulness saves the situation, A good Indian girl 
part and a large cast of ladies with opportunity for pretty dressing. Pro- 
duced by the author with success and strongly recommended. 
Price^ 2^ cents 

CHARACTERS 

Rev. John Blake. Fitzhugh MontmerryLoveland. 

Francis Hughes, Acting Manager of Tom McShane. 



the W. K. &- C. R. R. Rose Hawkins 1 ^ ,, , ,, 

^ from the East, Mary Hawkins | >«^^ ^ ^^^'^^^^''^• 
Edward Fielding I employed in the Fawn=No-Fraid. 



from the 
employed 
Douglas Mason \ office of the W. Mrs. Susan Brent, Mason's aunt. 



J 7e. 6^ C. Octavia Brent | , , , . 

Steven Malone, Manager of the Genevieve Brent j ^'^^ aaugnters. 

Lower 7 Ranch. Flossie Mason \ 

Ezra Simpson, in Malone' s employ. Muriel Lee \ Octavia' s friends. 
Jonah Hawkins, Sheriff of Sedhill Irene Gordon j 

County. Fleurette, Mrs. Brent's maid, 

Noah Hawkins. Genie McShane. 

SOUVENIR SPOONS 

A Comedy in One Act 
By Irving Dale 
Two males, two females. Scene, an interior ; costumes, modern. Plays 
twenty minutes. Walter Varnell takes his wife and sister to a fashionable 
restaurant for dinner and the sister succumbs to temptation and annexes 
one of the spoons as a souvenir. Brother takes very high moral ground 
when circumstances reveal this, but the plot thickens later and it tran- 
spires that his v/ife, whom he has held up as a model, has taken with the 
same motive a brass finger bowl. This story is very skillfuly developed 
in a play of exceptional interest and acting quality. Strongly recommended. 
Price, 75 cents 

ON TO VICTORY 

A Comedy in Two Acts 
By Hester N. Johnson 
Two males, six females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, easy and unim- 
portant. Plays an hour and a quarter. Barbara Manning, an ardent 
suffragist, mistakes the new minister for her chum Betty's big brother 
from California, who is to carry the banner in their parade, and inveigles 
him into participation with the "cause." This rather messes things up for 
him professionally, but he survives that and wins Barbara by way of con- 
solation. A very bright and pretty little " suffrage " piece, strongly rec- 
ommended. Price^ ij cents 



THE HOODOO 

A Farce in Three Acts 
By Walter Ben Hare 
Six males, twelve females and four children. Costumes, modern; 
scenery, one interior and one exterior, or can be played in a single in- 
terior. Plays two hours and twenty minutes. For a wedding gift Pro- 
fessor Spiggot gives Brigliton a marvelous Egyptian scarab. Under its 
evil influence Brighton is blackmailed by a former flame ; the susceptible 
Billy finds himself engaged to three ladies; the Professor is accused of 
bigamy ; and Dun, the clever burglar, is caught. Matters are straight- 
ened out when the scarab is buried. Hemachus, the Professor's son, and 
Paradise, the colored cook, afford exceptional character parts. Recom 
mended for schools. Price, 25 cents 

CHARACTERS 

Brighton Early, about to he married. 

Billy Jackson, the heart breaker. 

Professor Solomon Spiggot, aji authority on Egypt, 

Hemachus Spiggot, his son, aged seventeen. 

Mr. Malachi Meek, a lively old gentleman 0/ sixty-nine. 

Mr. Dun, the burglar. 

Miss Amy Lee, about to be married. 

Mrs. Perrington-Shine, her aunt and Mr. Meek' s daughter. 

Gwendolyn Perrington-Shine, who does Just as mamma says. 

Dodo De Graft, the Dazzling Daisy. 

Mrs. Ima Clinger, a fascinatitig young widow. 

Angelina, her angel child, aged eight. 

Miss Doris Ruffles, A7ny^s maid of honor. 

Mrs. Semiramis Spiggot, the mother of seven. 

EuPEPSiA Spiggot, her daughter, aged sixteen. 

Miss Longnecker, a public school-teacher. 

Lulu, by naine and nature. 

Aunt Paradise, the colored cook lady. 

Four Little Spiggots. 

SYNOPSIS 

Act L The lawn at Mrs. Perrington-Shine's country home. 

Act IL Ihe library at 8: 00 p. m. A thief in the house. 

Act in. The same library at 1 1 : 00 p. m. Trouble for the burglar. 

THE CLINGING VINE 

A Comedy in One Act 

By Rachel Baker Gale 

Sixteen females. Costumes, modern ; scene, an interior. Plays forty 

minutes. Irish and Negro comedy parts. The Barlonville Woman's 

Club brings Mrs. Redding to trial on the charge that she is neglecting the 

club to attend to liousehold matters. As the trial proceeds other members 

confess to the same crime and the meeting breaks up with all agreenig to 

pay a little more attention to their liomes. Recommended for women's 

clubs. Author's royalty of $ 5.00 asked for each performance. 

Price. 2!i cents 



JI* U). Pinero's Plays 

Price, 50 eeiite Eacb 



Min THANNFI Play in Four Acts. Six males, five females. 
lilllJ~\fllr%.V%i^LiMa Costumes, modern; scenery, three interiors. 
Plays two and a half hours. 

THE NOTORIOUS MRS. EBBSMITH 2S?' 'L^^Sl 

males, five females. Costumes, modern; scenery, all interiors. 
Plays a full evening. 

THF PROFITr'ATF Play in Four Acts. Seven males, five 
1 IIL4 1 SWJl Lil\Ji\ 1 Li females. Scenery, three interiors, rather 
elaborate ; costumes, modern. Plays a full evening. 

THE SCHOOLMISTRESS Sre°n'?eS^.^'=^'osS,"^'o^|; 

em ; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening. 

THE SECOND MRS. TANQUERAY ^^r^^^Xi 

females. Costumes, modern; scenery, three interiors. Plays a 
full evening. 

QWFFT T AVFNnFU Comedyin Three Acts. Seven males, 
OTTIIiCil L./\ V ElilJLrEiXV four females. Scene, a single interior, 
costumes, modern. Plays a full evening. 

THF THTTWriFDRni T Comedv in Four Acts. Ten males, 
ini:i inUilL7£.I\OHJLil nine females. Scenery, three interi- 
ors; costumes, modern. Plays a full evening. 

THF TIMF^ Comedy in Four Acts. Six males, seven females. 
1 Il£i 1 llVl£itJ Scene, a single interior ; costumes, modern. Plays 
a full evening. 

THF WFAITFl? ^FY Comedyin Three Acts. Eight males, 
in£i TT r«/i.l\.E«£\, iJ£iA eight females. Costumes, modern; 
scenery, two interiors. Plays a full evening. 

A WIFE WITHOUT A SMILE ^^r^^,;^'^j£l 

Costumes, modern ; scene, a single interior. Plays a full evening. 



Sent prepaid on receipt of price by 

Walttv ^. Jgafeer & Companp 

No. 5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Massachusetts 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




017 199 297 7 i 

Ci)e l^ilUam l^arren Ctittion 
of ^lapfi 



A^ YOII I IITF IT Comedy in Five Acts. Thirteen males, four 
AO lUU l^llil^ II females. Costumes, picturesque ; scenery, va- 
ried Plays a full evening. 

rAMIlTP I^rama In Five Acts. Nine males, five females. Co»- 
\^AallLiLiLi tumes, modern ; scenery, varied. Plays a full evening. 

INfinMAD ^^y ^° ^^^® Acts. Thirteen males, three females. 
lHUUiU Als Scenery varied ; costumes, Greek. Plays a full evening. 

MADV ^TF ADT Tragedy in Five Acts. Thirteen males, four fe- 
ITlAIVl ^lUAAi males, and supernumeraries. Costumes, of the 
period ; scenery, varied and elaborate. Plays a full evening, 

TBE MERCHANT OF VENICE SLTet^hTe^S^n^aS; Z'^^^f. 

picturesque j scenery varied. Plays a full evening. 

DirHFT IFII ^^^y ^° ^^^^ Acts. Fifteen males, two females. Scen- 
IVlvUCMIvU ery elaborate ; costumes of the period. Plays a full 
evening. 

THP filVAI^ Comedy in Five Acts. Nine males, five females. 
IILC niTALrJ Scenery varied; costumes of the period. Plays a 
full evening. 



Fifteen 
va- 



SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER i^%%;^. ST...f%.S^ 

ried J costumes of the period. Plays a full evening. 

TWELFTH NIGHT; OR, WHAT YOU WILL i°r^AnmK 



three females. 
full evening. 



Costumes, picturesque ; scenery, varied. Plays a 



Sent prepaid on receipt of price by 

5^alttr !^» I3a6er & Company 

No. 5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Massachusetts 



S. J. PARKHILL a CO . PRINTERS, BOSTON, U.S.A. 



